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(No Model.)

H. P. 8v e.N.-LENHART. SEAL LOGIC N0. 534,653. Patented Feb. 26, 1895. v

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of the lock hasp, and F the inscription sheet.

HARRY P. LENHART, TERRE HAUIE, INDIANA, AND CHARLES N.

LENI-IART, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

SEAL-LOCK.

Application filed August 4, 1894.

Be it known that we, HARRY P. LENHART, residing at Terre Hante, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, and CHARLES N. LENHART, residing at Mattoon, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our said invention is to provide a means in connection with a look by which the opening of such lock may invariably be detected, and which may thus take the place of the seals which are used in many places, but especially in connection with the fastenings to the doors of railway cars, particularly the variety known as box freight cars.

A look provided with our improved attachment will be first fully described, and the novel features thereof then pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a padlock provided with our-improved attachment; Fig.2, an edge elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a top or plan view of. the body of the lock, the hasp being cut in section, as seen from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 1, a fragment of the seal cover being also broken away to show the end of the inscription sheet frame and a groove in which it rests; Fig. 4, an edge elevation, with the hasp of the lock and the cover to our improved attachment thrown back; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view through the said attachment on the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, an interior View of the attachment with the inscription sheet and its frame removed, as seen from the dotted line 6 6 in Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a similar view as seen from the dotted line 7 7 in Fig. 4, and Fig. 8 a plan view of the inscription sheet frame.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the body of the lock; B, the hasp of the lock; 0, the'casing of our attachment; D, a spring shield within said casing; E, a spring knife or cutter attached to the shaft SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,653, dated February 26, 1895.

Serial No. 519.452. (No model.)

is moved. To have shown this attachment as efiected by means of a pin 1), but, of course, the central part of the shaft may be square if desired, or any other means of attachment employed. This is so that the movement of the lock-hasp shall also move the knife or cutter, as will be presently more fully described.

The seal case 0 is substantially an extension of the case of the look A, and is firmly united to said case, or formed integrally therewith. Its front side is of glass, so that the inscription sheet can be seen when it is closed. As a whole, it is of suitable shape and size to contain the knife or cutterg-the spring guard therefor; the inscription sheet and. its frame;

and it preferably has vertical grooves in its ends, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive said frame. This casing hasa cover 0 which is hinged to its front side, and has flanged edges which extend down all around the upper edge of the casing and the look over which it extends. As seen most plainly in Fig. 3, this cover has a perforation to receive the free end of the lock-hasp near one end, and is slotted at the other to permit the usual movement of the other end of said lock-hasp. As will be readily understood, this cover cannot be raised except the lock is first unlocked and the lockhasp raised.

The spring shield D is secured fixedly to the face of the look A, and its lower end is curved in, and bears against the surface of the lock, while its body and upper end stand out somewhat therefrom, being preferably supported by a bracket D rigidly secured to said lock and to said spring shield at about midway of said shield. When the lock-hasp is closed, the knife or cutter passes down behind this spring shield, and is thus kept free from the inscription sheet. When the lockha'sp is swung open, however, the knife or cutter, because of the curved shape of the lower ends of the shield and said knife, is caused to travel upon the outside of said shield, and thus penetrate and cut or tear said inscription sheet.

The knife or cutter E is rigidly attached to the lock-hasp shaft B and moves therewith. As above stated, in opening the lock-hasp it is forced out into contact with the inscription sheet and cuts or tears it. Thus it is impossible to open the look without defacing said inscription sheet, and any opening of said lock is therefore readily detected.

The inscription sheet F is generallya sheet of paper of suitable shape and size to be placed within the casing O, and it may bear any desired inscription, as well as the signature of the'agent who places it in position, or other identifying marks or devices. The frame F which carries it holds it out free from the glass, so that the knife or cutter is enabled to certainly do its work. This frame F is preferably double, so that the inscription sheet can be conveniently inserted by folding its lower edge and placing it between the two-members of said frame, and then pushing said frame into place, which brings said sheet on the inner side of said frame, with the thickness of the frame between it and the glass front of the case, and also closely against the spring shield D, and in position to be cut or defaced by the knife or cutter whenever the lock is again opened. The cover C is then swung down, the lockhasp then forced into place, and locked. If, before or after the car arrives at its destination,..the car is unlocked, a certain record of that fact is made. If itis unlocked by an authorized person, a new inscription sheet is placed in the case before looking it. If unlocked by an unauthorized person, such person will have no means of restoring it to proper condition, the sheets themselves hearing such inscriptions as render them difficult to be counterfeited, and being also easily recognizable by the railway agents or OffiOGIS.

Another advantage of our lock is that, by its use, a certain indication can be made of the condition of the car, as to whether it is loaded or empty, and the way-bills do not have to be depended upon to ascertain the fact. The inscription sheets may either bear appropriate words for this purpose, or different colors may be employedone color for loaded cars, and another color for empty cars. Obviously, in the use of the ordinary lead seals no such provision can be made, and there have been instances of mistake, in waybills or otherwise, which have resulted in the loss of entire carloads of perishable freight; which, if the cars themselves had been properly inscribed would not have occurred.

We may also extend our device so that the inscription sheet will cover the key-hole of the look, if desired, or make other changes in construction without departing from our invention; which we have endeavored to show and describe herein in one of its simplest forms, but which is obviously adapted to be changed to suit varying conditions or requirements.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a lock, of a casing attached thereto, a cover to said casing extending over said lock and having suitable slots or perforations with which the lock-hasp may engage, an inscription sheet within said casing, and a knife or cutter mounted directly 'upon the lock-hasp shaft, whereby said inscription sheet may be out or defaced when the lock-hasp is swung open.

2. The combination, with a padlock, of a casing secured thereto having a transparent front, an inscription sheet inserted in said casing behind said front, a cover to said casing adapted to extend over the top of the lock and to be fastened in place by the lock-hasp when the same is shut, and a knife or cutter on the lock-hasp shaft adapted .to come in contact with and cut or deface said inscription sheet, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a padlock, of a casing, a cover thereto adapted to be fastened by the lock-hasp, a knife on the lock-hasp shaft, and a spring shield within the casing behind which said knife will pass in closing the lock-hasp but over which said knife will ride in opening said lock-hasp, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, at Mattoon, Illinois, this 27th day of July, A. D. 1894.

HARRY P. LENHART. CHARLES N. LENHART. 

